McKeeman, Mashkantceva Win 19th Philadelphia Marathon

PHILADELPHIA - (November 18, 2012) - The 19th running of the Philadelphia Marathon included multiple course records at all race distances - in the marathon, half-marathon, and Saturday's 8K.

Sunday highlights included women's champion Irina Mashkantceva (right), breaking Mariska Kramer's 2011 course record. Mashkantceva, with a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 37 seconds, goes into the Philadelphia Marathon record books in her first marathon on U.S. soil.

In the men's division, local favorite Mike McKeeman was the clear winner, outpacing the second place finisher, Scott MacPherson, by 42 seconds. MacPherson took second in his second marathon competition. McKeeman, with a winning time of 2:17:51, runs locally with Bryn Mawr Running Club, and does most of his training in Philadelphia.

"It is so special to win this marathon in my hometown," said Mike McKeeman (left). "Knowing every inch of the course helped but what really spurred me to a victory was the crowd which was full of my friends and family."

Mashkantceva, of Russia, spoke through an interpreter about her experience today. "I trained specifically for Philadelphia because I heard about it being a great course. It's true, I loved the course and the many cheering fans helped make my first marathon in the U.S. so special," she said.

At the top of the Half Marathon podium were repeat winners from Saturday's Rothman 8K: Kenyan Isaac Korir Kedikou in the men's division and Misiker Mekonnin Demissie in the women's division. Demissie's 1:11:57 broke the course record of 1:12:42 set by Margaret Kare in 2006.

Samuel Ndereba of Royersford, PA, placed second in the Men's 8K on Saturday, followed by a second place finish in the men's Half Marathon. Ndereba is no stranger to the Philadelphia Marathon, having won both the Men's 8K and Half Marathon races in 2011.

Two hometown favorites won their Masters Division - Rachid Bensalem, 40, of Philadelphia took the Men's Masters Marathon with a time of 2:28:06. Doreen McCoubrie, 51, of Malvern, PA won the Women's Masters Division in the Half Marathon with a time of 1:23:22.

The Rothman Institute 8K kicked off the first of four races of Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend with a new course record in the men's field set by Kedikou, 25, with a time of 22:29.

Kedikou (right) broke the record of 23:03 set by Marcus O'Sullivan set in 1997. The 8K was Kedikou's debut race on American soil.

Demissie, 24, took the 8K crown in 25:46. A talented marathoner from Ethiopia who lives and trains in the U.S., had originally planned to run in the ING New York City Marathon prior to its cancellation earlier this month.

More than 2,500 runners were registered for the largest-ever field of the Rothman Institute 8K (4.97 miles). Runners started on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art before they took a turn on the scenic banks of the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive.